Monty wants to make ‘Hibsed it’ expletive a thing of the past
Nick Montgomery says he wants to banish the “Hibsed it” curse from Easter Road forever. And the under-fire manager, who went “all-in” by moving his entire family to Scotland when he replaced Lee Johnson last September, believes he deserves a proper summer transfer window to prove his value to the club.
Speaking at East Mains yesterday, Montgomery got his first chance to respond to last week’s statement by the Hibs board about an “unacceptable” campaign. Monty, who argues that he’s 100 per cent the right man to guide Hibs through an exciting new era as part of billionaire Bournemouth owner Bill Foley’s sphere of influence, believes the first priority is to exorcise a “fear” that has infected players AND supporters since long before his arrival as gaffer. The straight-talking Yorkshireman declared: “There is a stigma around the club. The things that we spoke about, and I was told about before I came to the club.
“Everyone knows ‘Hibsed it’ and the sayings that go with it. That’s been around long before I came to the club. And it does take time to change.
“I think moving forward, I would definitely like to bring somebody in to help with that. Because it’s a real mental thing, as well. But it’s the fans, as well, that fear of failure. I think it’s something that has been around the club and isn’t easy to change. I have to work really hard to get results that change fans from some of that doubt and fear to supporters who believe. I’m working hard to do that.”
The board statement has been widely interpreted as a clear warning to the manager, giving him the final five games of this season to save his job. Starting today against St Johnstone in Perth. Montgomery doesn’t see things in the same shades of black and white, saying:“For sure, I think any manager deserves time to put their own team together in terms of a transfer window.
When I came to the club a lot of discussions were about taking over mid-season and this is where the club is at.
“The opportunity to come to Hibs was for the challenge; I left a team of champions in one country and came to a team that was bottom of the league. I tried to bring a new culture, a new way of playing. I understand everyone wants to see stuff right away but I also know it takes time to build a winning culture and build your own team.”
There is a stigma around the club, a fear of failure, and it takes time to change